Wednesday 4 July 2012

The Black Boy Inn Caernarfon

The Tafarn y Black Boy, or Black Boy Inn is one of Caernarfon's most famous landmarks. Located near to the northern town wall, on Northgate Street, the inn was built around 1522, making it one of the oldest inns in Wales.

The inn has had several names over the course of its life, but there are three theories concerning it's current unusual name. The first is that the Inn was named after an African boy who was brought into Caernarfon on a ship. The second relates to a navigational buoy that existed in Caernarfon harbour. Both of these theories are referenced in the Inn's distinctive logo below.

The last theory refers to a nickname given to Charles the Second by his mother, around the period that Royalists used the inn as a secret rendezvous point. 


There are more colourful explanations for the Welsh name of the inn's location; Northgate Street is also known as Stryd Pedwar a Chwech. This literally translates as Four and Six Street - or four shillings and sixpence. Allegedly this was the going rate for rental of a room at the inn, a bottle of gin, and the services of a lady of easy virtue!


Fortunately this part of town has moved considerably up market since then. The Black Boy has a good reputation as one of the best and most atmospheric places to eat in Caernarfon.

10 comments:

  1. Lovely old inn. What are the bedrooms like?

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    1. Excellent, we treated ourselves to a room with a four poster for our 10th wedding anniversary getaway and we were not disappointed. All mod-cons and feather pillows to boot!

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  2. I loved the Black Boy, we stopped there on holiday last year and had a great meal, can't wait to go back again!

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  3. The castle is a must see if you visit Caernarfon.

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    1. Err well that's the castle out, any other suggestions in the area when it's pooouuurrrrriiiing!!!!

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    2. Head for the Galeri, you can enjoy a nice warm coffee there too.

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  4. I can't believe there's another Black Boy Inn! There's one where I live in Bristol. Will definitely be visiting this one on our trip next week!

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    1. I stayed there back in 2008 and I thought it pretty tired out. It must have been refurbished.

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